Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for salvaging a patient's own blood during intraoperative surgical procedures and reinfusing the blood, washed and filtered, to the patient substantially continuously, on-line and in real-time. The apparatus comprises suction means, admixing means for admixing aspirated blood with a washing fluid, filtering means for filtering the admixture through an emboli filter, monitoring means for measuring the amount of cellular component volume in the aspirated, filtered blood, filtration means for removing excess fluid and impurities from the blood, and reinfusion means for introducing the washed and filtered blood to the patient free of emboli. The apparatus is structured to introduce washing fluid to the aspirated blood in proportion to the measured hematocrit level of the blood that is aspirated. Methods are disclosed for priming of the system, cleaning and flushing the apparatus of blood clots and debris by means of reverse filtration and filtration of blood for reinfusion.

Abstract: An apparatus for recycling autologous blood from a patient for reinfusion back to the patient comprising suction means, means for admixing aspirated blood with a washing fluid, filtering means for filtering the admixture through an emboli filter, monitoring means for measuring the blood component levels or hematocrit in the filtered blood, filtration means for removing excess fluid and particulates from the blood, and reinfusion means is disclosed. The apparatus operates in three different modes--idling, filtration and reinfusion--in response to specified conditions. Embodiments for use during surgery for on-line purification and reinfusion on a real time basis are disclosed along with embodiments for use postsurgically when the wound site is closed. Means for performing reverse filtration in the membrane filter are also included for maintaining a consistent level of filtration through the membrane filter.

Abstract: An apparatus for recycling autologous blood from a patient for reinfusion back to the patient comprising suction means, admixing means for admixing aspirated blood with a washing fluid, filtering means for filtering the admixture through an emboli filter and a membrane filter, monitoring means for measuring the amount of cellular component volume in the filtered blood, filtration means for removing excess fluid and particulates from the blood, and reinfusion means is disclosed. Embodiments for use during surgery for on-line purification and reinfusion on a real time basis are disclosed along with embodiments for use post-surgically when the wound site is closed and drainage tubing has been implanted at the wound site to draw off blood post-surgically. Methods for performing the autotransfusion process are also disclosed.